Spray nozzle



June 5, 1951 w. H. MAsHlN-rER TAL SPRAY NOZZLE Filed Sept. 21, 1945Patented June 5, 1951 SPRAY N OZZLE William H. Mashinter an Chicago,Ill. Mashinter d Morton It. Gilbert,

said Gilbert assigner to said Application September 21, 1945, Serial No.617,752

11 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to spray nozzles, and more particularly to valveconstructions adapted to be used to control the passage of fluid of anycomposition, such as water, lubricating oils, abrasive liquids such asgasoline, various chemicals such as carbon dioxide and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve wherein there are no slidably engageable moving parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve wherein there is no side spray thrust.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve wherein manufacturing tolerances are large but valveaction is positive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve which functions equally well .regardless of the matingparts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve permitting a large variety or" selected spray shapes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve permitting passage of large particles of material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve which sprays substantially any uids' or semi-duide withequal facility and with high pressures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve wherein there are relatively few moving parts, saidnozzle being relatively cheap, easily assembled and is useful, eflicientand effective in diierent sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle which maybe designed for many uses, such as for ieul injection, air conditioning,spray drying of foods, paint sprays, homogenizing processes, slurrypumping, refrigeration and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having adischarge valve which is self-cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle Iwhichopens uniformly, i. e., unseats uniformly to permit a spray to beejected having a uniform configuration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle having atension spring urging the valve to closed position whereby there is notendency [or the spring to induce or transmit a mechanical force to thevalve which would tend to cause the valve to disrupt the hydraulic forceof the uuid discharged through the nozzle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle wherein noguide action of the valve is necessary so that the nozzle or orificeentrance may be properly streamlined whereby proper atomization isattained on the discharge side of the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spray nozzle which canbe made of small diameter, yet the stem may be elongated, with no guideaction, to permit operation through an eX- tended distance, as nobuckling stresses are imparted to the valve stem- Another object of theinvention is to provide a spray nozzle which can be constructed so thatit can be angularly applied without sacrice to the efficiency of thenozzle.

With these and various other objects in View, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out in the specification,drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of the device and whereinlike reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 isa sectional elevation through one form of spray nozzle embodying theinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan View taken substantially in the plane asindicated by the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation through a modied form of spray nozzleembodying the invention;

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view taken substantially in the plane asindicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of another modified form of spraynozzle embodying the invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional plan View taken substantially in the plane asindicated by the line 6 5 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of nozzle orclosure member embodying the invention; and

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of another modified form of nozzle orclosure member embodying the invention, showing the end portion of valvemember therefor.

Referring rst of all, more particularly, to the spray nozzle shown inFigures 1 and 2, said nozzle consists essentially of a body portion 5E!provided with a bore I2, the bore adjacent one end thereof beingprovided with a shoulder Ill. The body is threaded as at l5 forreception of corresponding threads of the head nut 81, the

nut being provided with an internal shoulder 26 seating on suitablepacking 22 provided between the'shoulder 26 and the shoulder 24 providedon one end of the body member i0.

The nut is internally threaded as at 26 for the reception of a suitablesupply tube or pipe adapted to be connected to a suitable source ofsupply, the material to be sprayed entering in the direction as shown.The land or recess 2B is provided for the reception of a suitablegasket. The head is provided with suitable shoulders 36 for thereception of a suitable tool for assembly, and is provided with ashoulderV 32 adapted to overlie and engage the spider 34 of the upperspring coupling member 36, the spider being apertured as at 38 forpermitting the passage of fluid therethrough. The spider is adapted toseat on suitable rings or shims 40 seated on seat I4, the number ofshims being determined by the desired positioning of the coupling member36 forrspring adjustment.

The spider is provided with the coupling stem 42 terminating in aspherical coupling or seat member 44 adapted to be received within theupper spring seat or retainer 46. The spring retainer 46 is providedwith the shoulder 48 to which one end of the tension spring is suitablysecured as Vby welding. The lower end of the tension spring 56 is weldedor otherwise secured to the shoulder 52 of the lower spring seat orretainer 54. The spring retainer 54 is provided with the enlarged bore56 terminating in the seat 58 receiving the spherical portion or seat 66of the valve 62.

The seat 58 terminates in the passage E4 which is of smaller diameterthan the diameter of the spherical portion 66 and in order to assemblethe valve 62 in position in the retainer, the spring retainer is drilledas at 66, the diameter of the drill hole being slightly greater than thediameter of the spherical end 60, and the hole 66 is connected to thepassage 64 as by passage 68'of slightly greater width than thetransverse diameter of the valve stem of the valve 62. The valve stem 10terminates in a spherical valve end 12 adapted to seat on thecorrespondingly shaped seat 14 of the nozzle or closure member 16, ltheseat communicating with bore I2 by passage 18 having a diameter greaterthan the diameter of the valve stem 'i6 whereby substantially no guideaction is obtained from the walls of passage 18.

, The nozzle 16 is provided with the flange 86 adapted to be engaged bythe retaining flange 82 of the nozzle body retaining nut 84, said nutbeing ,providedA with a threaded portion V86 adapted to havecooperativerengagement with corresponding threads of the body Ill.V Asuitable gasket 88 is interposed between the flange 86 and the end oftheA .body I2 for making a fluid tight connection. Y

Referring now to theV construction illustrated in Figure V3,the body 96is provided with the bore 92 and is provided with the upper externalthreads94 for the reception of suitable threads of supply means, such asa supply tube internally threaded, or the unit injector such as shown inapplication Serial No. 537,793, now Patent No. 2,530,128,dated November14, 1950, a gasket 96 beingY provided to insure a tight joint. The bodyis also internally threaded as at S8 if it is to be secured to theexternal threads of a suitable supply tube, a gasket |66 being providedto insure a tight joint. The direction of ow of material (fluid) to beatomized is shown by the. arrow..

Vment purposes.

the depending stem |16 terminating in a spheri-V 44 The body member isalso internally threaded as at |02 for the reception of correspondingthreads of a spring coupling member including the spider |64, adjustmentof the spider being through a suitable tool slot |66, the spider beingprovided with suitable passages |68.

A retaining nut I I6 is provided for locking the spider in place, thenut being provided with passages II2 adapted to be aligned with the`pas-- sages |66,` the passages ||2 being connected by an annularpassage i I4 for insuring communication between-the passages ||2 and|68, a tool slot II6 being provided in the locking nut for adjustmentthereof. The spider is provided with the coupling stein I6 terminatingin the spherical coupling member |26 received in therspringV seat orretainer member |22. The spring retainer member |22 is provided with aspiral passage |24 for the reception of one end of the spiral spring|26, thepitch of the passage |24 being such as to spread theconvolutions of the spring |26, and the spring may be otherwise securedto the seat member as by welding. Y Y

The lower convolutions of the spring |26 are received ina passage |26and is similar to passage |24 of the lower spring seat or retainer mernber |30 to spread the convolutions of the spring, and the spring may beotherwise secured to said retaining member |36 as by welding. The lowerend of the `spring retainer member is provided with the inwardlydirecting ilange |32 adapted to support the substantially C-shaped valveseat member |34, said member being provided with |46 for permittingreadyVassemb-ly thereohthe passage terminating in a valve seat |42 ofcomplementary shape to the spherical valve end |44 The lower end of thevalve stem is provided with the spherical valve end 46, being adapted toseat on the conical seat |48 of the nozzle or closure member |56 wherebythe valve end |46 seats on substantially a line. It is understood, ofcourse, that the valve seat |43 may be of the same shape as valve seat14.

As before the nozzle is provided with the passage |52 -of substantiallygreater diameter than the diameter of valve stem E36 whereby nosubstantial guide action is obtained between the walls of the passage|52 and the valve stem |38.

The nozzle is provided with the external'fi'angc v|54 adapted to beengaged by the inwardly di# insuring a fluid tightrconnection betweenthe nozzle, nut and body.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the body |64 isthreaded as at |66 for the reception of corresponding threads on the capY |66.V The cap is adapted to engage and position the upper couplingretaining disk |16 of the spring couplingrmember |12. Suitable shims |14are interposed between the retaining disk |10 and recess |16 of the bodymember for adjust'- The coupling is provided with ilange |84 to whichone end of the tension spring |86 is seated, being Ypreferably securedthereto as Yby wellzllis` 'lheloWSl convolutions ofthe :Spring 1.86 areadapted to be received suitable spiral recess I .provided in the lov/,er`spring .seat or retainer .member lili). As before, the recess is .Sarranged as to .substantially .spread the convolutions received therein,andsaid spring .may be otherwise 4secured to the spring seat member .asby .welding- The spring seat member `lil is provided with a pair Aofvalve retaining oollets |92 `(Figure `6) proyiding a Valve end sea-t ldfor .the spherical valve end |95. The slopes .of the seat |913 and theengaging surface between the seat and the member its are `the same,whereby the collets may be readily `assembled with .the valve and member|88, the valve seats being retained in .proper position. Thus the.collets form a selis` aligning .Valve seat.

The valve stem |93 terminates in a substantially conical valve 235iwhich is shown seated on a correspondingly conical seat Zlz of thenozzle or `closure `member The nozzle 2st is pro- .Vded with anoutwardly extending flange 2195 received by the inwardly directed`flange 2&3 of the nozzle retaining nut 2|@ which is threaded as at 2|2for the reception oi corresponding threads `of the body lglil. Asuitable gasket Elf: is disposed between the lower end of the body |654and iiange 265 for insuring a fluid tight connection beu/'een the body,nut and nozzle, and the body is provided ,with a suitably threaded boss2|6 for suitable .connection to a source of supply. The direction offluid to be atomized is shown by the arrow.

The boss is shouldered as at 2lb for the recaption of a casket forinsuring a iight `001inection with the Supply tube or and the bosscommunicates through passage 223 with the bore of the body member 16d.

While it is ,geen that the valve ends or" Figures l and 3 aresubstantially the same, while the valve end .of the modicationillustrated in Figure is different, and the shape of the valve seats ofthe nozzles vary, it is under-stood that. these may be interchangeablein the various fleuret.

`In operation it Will be seen that the springs 5U, |25 and |35 are.always in tension whereby the valves are always self-aligning, theyopen uniformly with respect to the nozzle seats therefor, and no guideaction of the valve stems :is necessary. Fluid introduced to the bore ofthe body portions either in a pulsating manner or a steady causeintermittent operation of the. valve, or steady operation of the Valve,relief of pressure permitting the tension spring to accurately andpositively seat the discharge valve member Without any other guideaction being necessary. l

In the construction illustrated in Figures l and 2 the fluid will bedischarged in a substantially conical manner as illustrated at 222, thespray then assuming a reverse, substantially conical shape asillustrated at 224.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the spray, assumes asubstantially conical shape 226 for a distance, and then additionallyspreads out as at -228.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 5 the spray assumes asubstantially Wide, constant conical shape as illustrated at 239.

Thus the nozzle and valves would be chosen in accordance With the shapeof the spray desiredl and this would depend largely upon the use towhich the nozzle Was to be put.

As indicated before. the nozzle is susceptible of ,a great number ofuses, such .as fuel iii-nochtan-r air conditioning, rrefrigerating,spray drying of' loods, as for quick freezing dehydrated juicesr paintspraying, homogenizng process, slurry pumping and the like.

This .form .of nozzle is also susceptible of use where a semi-solid (orslurry) is to be pumped. It is readily so adapted due to the fact thatlarge clearances may be maintained between the valve stem, dischargevalve and the discharge passage of the nozzle, and the valve isself-cleaning, tending to remove any `particles which have a tendenoy tostick to the discharge valve seat.

In Figure '7 there is shown a modied form of nozzle or closure member222, wherein the body portion 224 is provided with the securing ange 225and the axial bore 228, having a'diameter D, the outer end oi the nozzleis provided with the valve seat 235i which may be similar to seats "M,|48 or 202, and has the diameter at the end of the nozzle or at theorifice represented by d. A cylindrical land 232 is provided, the depthof the land from the end. of the nozzle being given as H. This depth l-Iis determined depending upon .the spray angle desired i. e., as Hincreases the spray angle decreases. The cylindrical land permitsmaintaining a controlled seat width while varying D and d. Anotherfactor also enters into the spray angle, i. e., the stiier the valvespring (as 5E in Figure l) the Wider the spray angle.

The ratio of D to d has a definite effect on 1. The ability of the valveto chatter.

2,. The spray angle.

3. The distance from the orirlce of the occurrence of the maximum spraywidth.

The tendency to chatter has been found to increase with the approach ofthe ratio oi D to d to the value of onej and as the ratio approaches onethe valve squeaks The nearer the ratio approaches one the narrower thespray angle becomes and the farther the occurrence of the maximum spraywidth from the orifice.

In the nozzle or closure member illustrated in Figure 8 the body portion234 is provided vvith the securing flange 236 and has an axial bore 238.Frequently it is diicult to place an injlector in the head or Wall of anengine and. still obtain a proper spray of fluid. rihe end 260 of thenozzle member shown in Figure 8 is thus disposed at the desired angleand the ball seat 242 of the valve member 24s of valve 246 is disposedbelou7 the cylindrical land 268. Thus a spray as shown at 25|] isprovided of similar configuration to that shown in Figure 3 but soejected that the center line 252 of the spray is angularly disposed tothe center line 25d or the valve 2%, the stem 256 of the valve extendingthrough bore 238 and being similar to valve |40. Of course other shapesof sprays may be obtained as in Figure 1.

t is to be understood that While the parts have been described incertain positions, the nozzles operate equally wel] in any position andit is understood that this application is not to be limited by the exactembodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustrationand not limitation as various and other forms of the clevice Will, ofcourse, be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

l. A valve assembly comprising a body member having a spring seattherein, means for Supporting said seat in said body member, aconnection between said seat and body member, a second spring seatspaced from said first named spring seat, a tension spring secured tosaid seats, said body member being provided with a closure member, saidclosure member having a passage terminating in an outer valve seat, anda valve seated on said seat and having a stem extending through saidpassage, the cross sectional area of said stem being less than that oisaid passage whereby said stem is unguided, a connection between saidstem and said second spring seat, said valve opening against the tensionof said spring, one of said connections of one of said spring seatsbeing a substantially universal connection permitting relative movementof said last named spring seat in a plurality of directions with respectto said body member.

2. A nozzle assembly comprising a body member having a spring seattherein, means for supporting said seat in said body member, a secondspring seat spaced from said first named spring seat, a tensionspringsecured to said seats and urging said seats toward each other, anozzle'secured to said body member, said nozzle having a passageterminating in an outer valve seat, and a valve seated on said outervalve seat and having a stem extending through said passage andconnected for substantial universal movement to said second spring seat,said valve stem being of sub- Y stantially less diameter than thediameter of said passage, said valve opening against the tension of saidspring.

3. A nozzle assembly comprising a body member having a closure at oneend, closure being provided with a passage adapted to be connected to asource of supply, a spider secured between said body member and closureand having a coupling stem thereon terminating in a substantiallyspherical coupling member, a spring seat having a substantiallyspherical coupling portion engaging said coupling member, a secondspring seat spaced from said rst named spring seat having a sphericalcoupling portion, a tension spring secured to said seats and urging saidseats toward each other, replaceable shims between said spider and bodymember for regulating the tension of said spring, a nozzle membersecured to said lbody portion and having a substantially spherical outervalve seat, a passage from said valve seat through said nozzle member,and a valve member having a substantially spherical valve end seated onsaid seat, a stem Y substantially spherical coupling member engageablewith the coupling portion of said second seat whereby said valve end isurged toward closed position by said spring and opens against thetensionV of said spring and is connected to said second named seat forsubstantially universal movement with respect thereto. v

4. A nozzle assembly comprising abody member having a closure at oneend, said closure being provided with a passage adapted to be connectedto a source of supply, a spider secured between said body member andclosure and having a coupling stem thereon terminating in a coupling'memben a spring seat having a pivotal connection with said couplingmember, a second spring seat spaced from the first named spring seat,V atension spring secured to said seats urging said seats toward eachother, a nozzle member secured to said body portion and having an outer-valve seat, a passage from said valve seat through said nozzle member,and a valve member having a valve end seated on said seat, a

stem extending from said Valve end through said passage Vand being ofsubstantially less cross section than that of the passage, said stembeing connected to said second spring seat through means providing asubstantially universal connection therebetween whereby said valve endis urged toward closed position by said spring and opens against thetension of said spring. y

5. A nozzle assembly comprising a body member having a closure at oneend, saidI closure being provided with a passage adapted to be connectedto asource of supply, a spider secured between said body member andclosure and having a coupling stem thereon terminating in asubstantially spherical coupling member, a spring seat having asubstantially spherical coupling portion engaging said coupling member,a second spring seat spaced from said first named spring seat having aspherical coupling portion, a tension spring secured to said seats andurging said seats toward each other, replaceable shims between saidspider and body member for regulating the tension of said spring, anozzle member secured to said body portion and having a substantiallyspherical outer valve seat, a passage from said valve seat through saidnozzle member, and a valve member having a substantially spherical valveend seated on said seat, a stem extending from said valve end throughsaid passage and being of substantially less cross section than that ofthe passage, said stem having a substantially spherical coupling memberengageable with the coupling portion of said second seat whereby saidvalve end is urged toward closed position by said spring and opensagainst the tension of said spring and is connected to said second namedseat for substantially universal movement with respect thereto, saidsecond valve seat having an opening adjacent the coupling portionconnected by a passage, the opening being of substantially greater crosssection than the diameter of the valve coupling member, the crosssection of said last named passage being less than the diameter of thevalve coupling member but greater than the cross section of the stemwhereby the valve can be assembled with said second seat.

6. A nozzle assembly comprising a body member having one end providedwith means for connecting said nozzle to a source of supply, a spiderdisposed in said end, a nut for securing said spider in place and havingpassages therethrough corresponding to the passages through said spider,said nut having a passage connecting said nut passages and communicatingwith the spider passages, said spider having a coupling stem thereonterminating in a substantially sphericalv coupling membenra spring seathaving a substantially spherical coupling portion engaging said couplingmember, a second spring seat spaced `from said first named spring seathaving a spherical Vcoupling portion, Ya tension spring secured'to saidseats and urging said seats to- 9 against the tension of said spring andis connected to said second named seat for substantially universalmovement with respect thereto.

7. A nozzle assembly comprising a body member having one end providedwith means for connecting said nozzle to a source of supply, a spiderdisposed in said end, a nut for securing said spider in place and havingpassages therethrough corresponding to the passages through said spider,said nut having a passage connecting said nut passages and communicatingwith the spider passages, said spider having a coupling stem thereonterminating in a substantially spherical coupling member, a spring seathaving a substantially spherical coupling portion engaging said couplingmember, a second spring seat spaced from said rst named spring seathaving a spherical coupling portion, a tension spring secured to saidseats and urging said seats toward each other, a nozzle member securedto said body portion and having a substantially conical outer valveseat, a passage from said valve seat through said nozzle member, and avalve member having a substantially spherical valve end seated on saidseat, a stem extending from said valve end through said passage andbeing of substantially less cross section than that of the passage, saidstem having asubstantially spherical coupling member engageable with thecoupling portion of said second seat whereby said valve end is urgedtoward closed position by said spring and opens against the tension ofsaid spring and is connected to said second named seat for substantiallyuniversal movement with respect thereto, said coupling portion of saidsecond named seat including a substantially C-shaped seat, the passagebeing of greater width than the cross section of said stem but less thanthe diameter of the valve coupling member. p

8. A nozzle assembly comprising a body member having an opening forattachment to a source of supply and having a closure at one end, acoupling retaining disk disposed between said closure and body member,said disk having a coupling stem terminating in a substantiallyspherical coupling member, a spring seat having a substantiallyspherical coupling portion engaging said coupling member, a secondspring seat spaced from the nrst spring seat having a coupling portionincluding spaced collets, a tension spring secured to said seats andurging said seats toward each other, replaceable shims between said diskand body member for regulating the tension of said spring, a nozzlemember having a substantially conical outer valve seat, a passage fromsaid valve seat through said nozzle member, and a valve member having asubstantially conical valve end seated on said seat, a stem extend.- ingfrom said valve end through said passage and being of substantially lesscross section than that of the passage, said stem having a substantiallyspherical coupling member engageable with the coupling portion of saidsecond seat whereby said valve end is urged toward closed position bysaid spring and opens against the tension of said spring.

9. A valve assembly comprising a body member having a spring couplingmember therein and a valve seat spaced from said spring coupling member,said body member having a passage, said spring coupling membercomprising a stem having a substantially spherical coupling end, a valvemember adapted to move between open and closed positions on said seat,said valve member having a stem extending through said passage andhaving less cross-sectional area than that of said passage andcircumferentially spaced from the walls thereof, said valve stemextending toward said iirst named stem and having a substantiallyspherical coupling end, a tension spring, and connecting means betweenthe opposite ends of said spring and the respective stems, saidconnecting means including a connection substantially freely embracingeach of said spherical ends for permitting rotation between said stemsand spring axially thereof, the axes of said stems and spring normallybeing substantially coaxial, said valve member opening against springtension.

10. A valve assembly comprising a body member having a spring couplingmember therein having a stem and a valve seat spaced from said springcoupling member, a valve member adapted to move between open and closedpositions on said seat, said body member having a passage, Said valvemember having a stem extending through said passage and having lesscross-sectional area than that of said passage and circumferentiallyspaced from the walls thereof, said valve stem extending toward saidstem of said spring coupling member, a tension spring, and connectingmeans between the opposite ends of said spring and said stem of saidcoupling member and said other stem respectively, there being auniversal connection between said stems and connecting means wherebyfree rotation is obtained between said valve member and spring axiallythereof, the axes of said stems and spring normally being substantiallycoaxial, said valve member opening against spring tension.

ll. A valve assembly comprising a body member having a spring couplingmember therein and a valve seat spaced from said spring coupling member,a valve adapted to move between open and closed positions on said seat,said body member having a passage, said Valve having a stem memberextending toward said spring coupling member, the cross sectional areaof said stem member being substantially less than that of said passageand circumferentially spaced from the wall thereof, a tension spring,and connecting means between theopposite ends of `said WILLIAM H.MASHINTER. MOR'ION R. GILBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 920,145 Hughes May 4, 19091,862,459 Baur June 7, 1932 1,863,075 Terry June 14, 1932 1,893,457Tartrais Jan. 3, 1933 2,125,445 Holveck Aug. 2, 1938 2,322,139 KaelinJune 15, 1943 2,342,757 Roser Feb. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 20,582 Great Britain Sept. 8, 1909 452,224 Great BritainAug. 19, 1936`

